Nigerians should sue Shell Petroleum and NOSDRA says Amnesty Int’l

A Human Right group, Amnesty International (AI), has accused Shell petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) of connivance and false claims of cleaning up oil spill contaminated sites in the oil producing States some years ago when in fact, their claims were nothing but a hoax.

The group’s Country Director, Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim who spoke at a press briefing yesterday said that the organizations in question could be charged to court and made to pay for damages, including corruption which will no longer be condoned in Nigeria.

The Director who accused NOSDRA of failing in its obligation to make sure the right things are being done at the right time and properly, gave instances of such organizations which were charged to court by Civil proceedings in the United States; which has paved way for justice to take its course.

He said, in the case of United States, as I have mentioned again, it wasn’t just criminal proceedings that was taken against B.P, but also civil proceedings; individuals in their hundreds have taken B.P to Court and B.P continues to pay money for the harm and damages done to individuals, it is possible to do that in Nigeria.”

Also speaking at the briefing was a Business and Human Right Researcher at Amnesty International, Mr. Mark Dummett, who recalled that the will to execute the recommendations of the United Nations Environmental Program on the clean-up of oil spill sites in the Niger delta, was one of the campaign promises by the new Nigerian President, rtd. Gen Muhammadu Buhari.

He maintained that the promised had brought hope to residents of such regions but was surprised to discover that all the claims that Oil Spill sites have been cleaned up by Shell Petroleum were never true as findings revealed.

While urging Shell Petroleum to respect the Nigerian Laws by carrying out its obligation without excuse or delay, Dummett said AI will in the meantime watch out for the fulfillment of the promise made by the Buhari’s administration.

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